SSU Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Dr. Liz Thach, MW

SSU Students Love Turley and Miraflores Zinfandels at ZAP Tasting

Rebecca Robinson of Zap with Ray Johnson The SSU WineSense Club was thrilled to have Rebecca Robinson, Executive Director of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP), conduct the most recent tasting. Rebecca regaled the students with the history of ZAP and shared fascinating information about the Zinfandel grape. Fun Facts About Zinfandel The grape is originally from Croatia where it is called Crljenak Kaštelanski Also quite famous in the Puglia region of Italy where it is known as Primativo Brought to America in the 1800’s Zinfandel Grapes Planted throughout the Sierra Foothills, Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, Paso Robles, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:32:18-08:00October 25, 2013|

Schug Winery Kicks Off SSU Wine Sense Club Tasting for Fall 2013

Harrison from Schug Winery By Guest Author Dominique Levenberg. There was excitement in the room for the first Sonoma State University Wine Sense Club meeting of the Fall 2013 semester. Harrison from Schug Carneros Estate Winery was a hit with the 38 students who enjoyed tasting five different wines paired with cheese, meats, and crackers. Favorite Schug Wines The line-up included Schug’s sparkling Pinot, a Chardonnay, two different Pinots from the Sonoma Coast and Carneros appellations, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. At the end of the tasting, everyone voted for their two favorite. The winners were the 2012 Schug Chardonnay [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:32:35-08:00September 19, 2013|

Hook & Ladder and Delicato Wineries Delight Millennials – Liz Rice, SSU Grad Gives Advice on International Wine Sales

Co-Authored by Jenny Garza – There was a double dose of delight when two very famous family run wineries, Hook & Ladder and Delicato, agreed to host the SSU Winesense Tasting this past week. Over 40 students showed up to listen to the presentations, taste some exciting California wines, and enjoy appetizers prepared by the SSU Winesense Board of Directors. Joshua Deloach Tells Story of Hook & Ladder Winery Hook & Ladder Winery, located in the Russian River AVA, is known for handcrafted small lots and specializes in pinot noir and zinfandel. Joshua DeLoach of Hook & Ladder gave an [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:34:41-08:00March 11, 2013|

Why Italians Link Wine to Food — and Recipe for Florentine Beefsteak

This January we are taking 26 Wine MBA and Wine Bachelors candidates to Tuscany for 2 weeks as part of a Winter Intersession class on global wine business. Most participants currently work in the California wine industry, and are excited to learn more about the Italian wine scene. We will be visiting wineries in Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Bolgheri, and staying in both Florence and Siena. For more information on the tour schedule, see: http://tuscanwinemusings.wordpress.com/ One of the interesting facts about Italian wine is its linkage to food. In fact, in Italy, the experience of drinking wine is not complete without food [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:37:26-08:00January 2, 2013|

What Dessert Pairs Best with Sparkling Wine? Korbel & Bianchi’s Provide Some Answers

Erica Mandl of Korbel Champagne Cellars For the last tasting of the semester at the SSU WineSense Club, we focused on a holiday theme of sparkling wine and dessert. The beautiful Erica Mandl, head winemaker at Korbel Champagne Cellars, led the tasting by introducing five different Korbel bubblies. These were matched to delectable desserts from the new bakery in Rohnert Park, Bianchi’s. How Sweet is Your Sparkling Wine? Erica cautioned that it was important to understand the level of residual sugar in a sparkling wine, in order to determine the type of dessert with which to pair it. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:38:10-08:00December 16, 2012|

Balletto and DeLoach Wineries Celebrate the Pinot Noir Harvest with SSU Millennials

Forty-four Millennials showed up to Thursday evening’s SSU Wine Club tasting called “Pinot Party.” Not only did the students get to taste pinot noir wines from both Balletto and DeLoach wineries, but they were also treated to fresh Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes from the vineyard. Favorite wines of the evening were the 2011 Balletto Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($29), which has notes of dark cherry cola, violets, earth and rhubard, and the 2009 DeLoach Green Valley Pinot Noir ($45). According to the winemaker notes, this latter wine is very aromatic, with touches of raspberries, black cherries, rhubarb, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:39:18-08:00October 1, 2012|

Kenwood and Valley of the Moon Winemakers Entertain SSU Millennials with Varietal Showdown

Another sold out crowd showed up this past week at the SSU Wine Club meeting to listen to veteran winemakers, Patrick Henderson of Kenwood Wine Estates and Greg Winter of Valley of the Moon. In addition to honoring the “end of summer,” the tasting featured a fascinating “varietal show down” of how two wines made of the same grape varietal can taste completely different based on appellation and/or winemaking techniques. Valley of the Moon’s Greg Winter started with out with an unoaked chardonnay and then compared it to an oaked wine. He explained that consumers liked different styles, and so [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:39:45-08:00September 19, 2012|

Benziger Winery Provides “How to Taste” Seminar to SSU Millennials

Kathy Benziger from Benziger Family Winery kicked off the first SSU Wine Club meeting of the semester by hosting a “How to Taste Wine” seminar. It was a packed house with 50 students, and some disappointed ones who had to be turned away from the door because there were no seats left. Kathy did an incredible job of telling the story of Benziger with its inspiring organic, biodynamic and sustainably grown wines. According to Kathy, “Every wine in our portfolio carries a third party certification of green farming practices history.” Favorite Wines of the Evening The favorite wines of the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:40:16-08:00September 18, 2012|

Why Millennials Don’t Read Emails

Last night we had our annual SSU Wine Club Board planning meeting at my house. This is usually a relaxed event where we identify the wineries we want to invite to campus next semester, and enjoy a BBQ dinner with many fun wines. This year’s planning dinner was equally enjoyable, but I was struck by our conversation about how we will promote our educational tasting seminars. “We will market the seminars via word of mouth and Facebook, of course,” said our new VP of Marketing. “Most college students never read emails.” As a college professor, I already knew this, but [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:40:58-08:00May 29, 2012|

Wine Galore! Five Wineries Pour for SSU Millennials – Silver Oak, Twomey Cellars, Corkscrew, Azari Vineyard and Dutcher Crossing

By Guest Author Jenna Riggan - The SSU Wine Sense club was fortunate enough to have five awesome wineries pour for us at the most recent Food & Wine Pairing! 50 students tasted wines from Silver Oak, Twomey Cellars, Corkscrew, Azari Vineyard and Dutcher Crossing. Our chefs prepared delicious food as usual, including tri-tip, asparagus and raspberry brownies. Favorite Wines The first favorite wine of the evening was a 2009 Dutcher Crossing Stuhlmuller Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay. ($34.00) This wine was an instant favorite with its floral aromas, and lemon, vanilla and crème brulée flavors. Dutcher Crossing Winery is [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:41:17-08:00April 20, 2012|

Blind Wine Tasting Battle with SSU Students and Quivera Winery

By Guest Author: Jenna Riggan - The latest SSU Wine Sense club meeting was full of conversation and member participation. Quivira Vineyards and Winery shared three of their lovely biodynamic wines with 23 students, who were both intrigued and impressed with the elements involved in biodynamic winemaking. Our chefs prepared a hearty meal of Lamb Shepherd's Pie, a mixed green salad with fig vinaigrette, and an insanely delicious rum cake to be paired with the Quivira wines. For a fun twist, SSU Wine Sense officers also organized a blind tasting competition, where SSU Wine Sense members (and Quivira guest Nicholas [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:42:53-08:00March 12, 2012|